//------------------------------// // Celestia Visits Tasavir (and Nightmare Moon) // Story: Tasavir's Little Ponies // by Mike the Red //------------------------------// Quite a bit of time passed as Nightmare and I grew considerably closer -- the relationship we shared had evolved from one of reluctant acceptance to one of intimacy. Moon Beam grew quickly and was joined by two more siblings, another filly named Night Shine and a colt named Midnight Strike. Like their older sister, these two were dark-coated Alicorn foals, blessed with great magic capabilities and very fast learners. We took great delight in teaching them as much as we could and watching them play -- their curiosity seemed boundless. As far as the lavender unicorn who had been banished from our city, we paid little heed -- we figured she would pose no serious threat to us, so we simply forgot about her existence. Even as a new Twilight took her place and proved to be much more of a valuable asset, the previous one had traveled a great distance to meet with others who might be able to help her. As it turns out, Princess Celestia from the other universe had traveled to mine in order to meet with me, though she encountered the renegade Twilight and took her back to her universe. Little did I know Celestia had plans in store for that one... --------------------------------------- "Twilight, it has been far too long since I last saw you -- I am amazed Tasavir sought to recreate the original," the Solar Princess mused. "Princess, please don't mention his name again! I can't believe he would take Nightmare Moon as his special somepony!" the lavender unicorn exclaimed in exasperation. "He seems to be under her thrall -- he listens to her and does as she demands!" "Perhaps he fears being banished -- though I wonder how long it has been since you were sent away from him. Tell me, what was your relationship to him?" The unicorn blushed deeply in embarrassment. "Well, we were very close," she said very softly, her head lowered. "You could say we were lovers -- everything was fine until that black pony showed up." "What you tell me strikes me as bizarre -- perhaps I should visit Tasavir and see all that has transpired in his realm. He visited me some time ago when he was facing the threat of Nightmare alone and sought my advice. Twilight, you are welcome to stay in my realm and meet with my little ponies as you wish -- perhaps you may make new friends here." "Thank you, Princess, that sounds like a good idea! I have seen some of these ponies, and their like quite mystifies me -- I have never seen ponies like these!" "My little ponies have evolved to some extent since your time here -- they may appear unusual to you --" "Are they Alicorns? I have seen so many with both wings and horns, though many also seem to have a crystalline structure to them as well!" "No, Twilight, they are not -- they have evolved to include the characteristics of all pony races -- some even have zebra mixed in as well, as the intermingling of races improved the genetic structures of all of them. You have seen the majestic structures which populate New Manehattan, which was built on the ruins of Old Manehattan some seven centuries ago. The number of ponies has multiplied exponentially as a result of medical and magic advances -- technology and science have evolved to meet the needs of my little ponies as well," the Solar Princess explained. The lavender unicorn was suitably impressed and quite eager to meet with ponies who were new to her. "I bid you a short farewell, Twilight. I shall assign a guard to escort you as necessary so you won't get lost. New Manehattan is quite large, much larger than you may remember." "Thank you so much, Princess! Please talk some sense into Tasavir -- I wish to return to his side once again," the mare implored. "I shall see what can be done, Twilight." With that, the Solar Princess teleported across the dimensional barrier to meet up with what had become to her, a rogue Alicorn. Her jaunt was swift, her appearance in my throne room quite sudden. -------------------------------- "Celestia, what an unexpected surprise," I stated, taking my gaze away from my black Alicorn lover. "What? My sister has returned? How droll," Nightmare uttered lazily. Her belly was swollen with what would become our fourth foal together. "Luna? What has become of you? Tasavir? You have made her pregnant with a foal?" Celestia asked in surprise. "Don't call me by that name, Celestia!" the black Alicorn barked. "Yes, I carry his foal -- this will be our fourth together!" As if to punctuate her pride, Moon Beam bounded into the room to meet up with us. The oldest of our foals was now about ten years old, but still hadn't gotten her cutie mark. Her curiosity had gotten the better of her and she gazed at the alabaster Alicorn mare with amazement. "Wow, who are you?!" she asked, flashing a big toothy grin, her canines evident. "I am Celestia -- I might ask the same of you, little one -- what is your name?" "I am called Moon Beam!" she exclaimed excitedly. "Daddy has told me quite a lot about you! I was hoping I'd get a chance to meet you some day! You're even more impressive than he told me!" She bounded around the Solar Princess, grinning and giggling in her excitement. Her effervescence was quite infectious, causing us all to chuckle lightly. "Tasavir, is she your oldest? She is what -- ten years old?" Celestia asked, her smile quite wide. "Yes, Celestia, that's about right -- so what brings you here? I wasn't quite expecting you to show up in pony," I mused. Nightmare seemed quite a bit more reserved in her opinion, her smile much more muted. "Tasavir, a small matter involving a certain lavender unicorn mare has come to my attention -- she has told me about your treatment of her and she wishes to return to your side," she stated calmly. The black Alicorn scowled at her, my reaction a bit more muted. "You mean Twilight? I hate to tell you this, Celestia, but she is not welcome here anymore. To add to that, her replacement has already been born and is being trained in my city -- the new Twilight will serve well in her new capacity. I don't say this to trouble you, but there are certain conditions I must adhere to in order to maintain my presence in this realm. I do not wish to be banished, as Nightie has told me on several occasions would occur were the original Twilight to return to my side. I apologize for the trouble I've caused her." The Solar Princess pondered my explanation and mused thoughtfully for a few moments, digesting and processing the information. She then gave me a baleful look, her eyes almost pleading with me. "Tasavir, I say this not to anger you, but your arrangement with my sister displeases me. I understand your reticence towards banishment, and believe me, it's not pleasant to spend a thousand years banished to a remote location from which there is little hope of escape. I do not wish that upon anypony, least of all one such as you -- but there should have been other possibilities other than sending your Twilight away. Luna, I implore you allow for her return -- if not by Tasavir's side, at least perhaps in your domicile." "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. A good suggestion, Celestia, one I heartily approve of!" the black Alicorn grinned, flashing her canines again. "I will trust you to do the right thing, Luna," her sister admonished. "I do whatever I please, Tia! You are in no position to make such demands!" "I shall not send her back -- at least not until she is ready," Celestia stated flatly. "Tasavir, I shall advise you to exercise caution." "I understand, Celestia. Be careful," I replied. The Solar Princess gave me a puzzled look at my unusual farewell, but took her leave anyway. "That's right, Tia! Be careful!" Nightmare shouted after her as her teleport faded. "What?" she asked, glaring at me as I stared hard at her through slightly narrowed eyes. "I didn't mean it like that, Nightie," I replied flatly. "Whatever," she muttered before laying out beside me again. "Feed me another grape, loverboy!"